In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 16-254V
Filed: May 9, 2016
Unpublished
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KELLY CARTER, *
*
Petitioner, *
* Ruling on Entitlement; Concession;
v. * Influenza Vaccination;
* Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine
SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Administration (“SIRVA”);
AND HUMAN SERVICES, * Special Processing Unit (“SPU”)
*
Respondent. *
*
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Jeffrey S. Pop, Jeffrey S. Pop, Attorney at Law, Beverly Hills, CA, for petitioner.
Debra Begley, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.
RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1
Dorsey, Chief Special Master:
On February 23, 2016, Kelly Carter (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation
under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et
seq.,2 (the “Vaccine Act” or “Program”). Petitioner alleges that she “developed severe
pain in her right shoulder and right arm” caused by the influenza vaccination she
received on November 4, 2014. Petition at 1. Petitioner further alleges that she has
suffered the residual effects of her injury for more than six months and that she has not
filed a civil suit or receive a settlement for her vaccine related injuries. Id. at ¶¶ 21-23.
The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.
On May 9, 2016, respondent filed her Rule 4(c) report in which she concedes
that petitioner is entitled to compensation in this case. Respondent’s Rule 4(c) Report
1 Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the
undersigned intends to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, in accordance with
the E-Government Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-347, § 205, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (codified as amended
at 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012)). In accordance with Vaccine Rule 18(b), petitioner has 14 days to
identify and move to redact medical or other information, the disclosure of which would constitute an
unwarranted invasion of privacy. If, upon review, the undersigned agrees that the identified material fits
within this definition, the undersigned will redact such material from public access.
2National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755. Hereinafter, for
ease of citation, all “§” references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. §
300aa (2012).
at 1. Specifically, respondent indicates that she “believes that the alleged injury is
consistent with SIRVA that was caused by the administration of petitioner’s flu
vaccination.” Id. at 3. Respondent further indicates that “petitioner meets the statutory
requirements by suffering the condition for more than six months . . . [and] has satisfied
all legal prerequisites for compensation under the Vaccine Act.” Id. (citations omitted).
In view of respondent’s concession and the evidence before me, I find that
petitioner is entitled to compensation.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/Nora Beth Dorsey
Nora Beth Dorsey
Chief Special Master
2